PARTICK THISTLE starlet Ricky Little is determined to prove that size doesn't matter when it comes to nailing down a first-team slot.

Ironically for a central defender named Little, the youngster's 5ft 9-inch frame is short by First Division levels - where the norm is to have twin giants at centre-back.

But Little is determined to become a big noise in the Jags' back line next term after making his top-team breakthrough.

He vowed: "I know I am not the biggest of central defenders, but I feel I can compete with anyone in the air and I like to get stuck in, so the physical side of the game is no great problem.

"I don't think you have to be six foot five to do a job at the heart of the defence. If you look back at guys like John Brown at Rangers, he wasn't the biggest central defender, but how many winners' medals did he pick up?

"So the most important thing is belief in yourself and determination to do a job. I have plenty of both."

But the modest 18-year-old has admitted his three-game run in the Jags' first team was made easier by playing alongside Thistle's unflappable stopper John Robertson.

Little said: "Robbo has so much experience and is really cool under pressure. I feel like I have learned a lot from playing alongside him, especially with positional sense and such like.

"But it also showed me what I am going to have to improve on and I know there are still plenty of parts of my game that can get better.

"My passing and final ball let me down a bit and they are aspects I am determined to improve."

Little added: "The speed of the game and its intensity is so much more severe.

"Your first touch has to be good and you need to be sharp both on and off the ball, but hopefully that will all get better the more often I get first- team football."

Thistle have added a Saturday, July 19 pre- season friendly with Carlisle United at Firhill, kick-off 3pm, to their build-up programme.